Kimberly Ann Komando (born July 1 , 1967 ) is an American radio personality and the host of two daily radio shows and one weekend radio show about consumer technology. On her weekly call-in show, she provides advice about technology gadgets, websites, smartphone apps, and internet security.
21-754: The Kim Komando Show is broadcast and syndicated on over 435 radio stations in the United States and two stations in Ontario, Canada, to an estimated 6.5+ million listeners. Her Consumer Tech Update and Digital Life Hack airs on more than 390 stations seven days a week. Her radio shows are also heard internationally on the Armed Forces Radio Network, covering 177 countries. She hosts podcasts served to over 300,000 listeners per week. The Kim Komando Television Show premiered globally on Bloomberg TV on January 5, 2019. Kim Komando also hosts
42-598: A 1967 Corvette that was used in the movie Con Air . She owns a 2018 Embraer Phenom 300 jet and an Azimut 50 Flybridge yacht. Gracie Awards The Gracie Awards are awards presented by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWM) in the United States, to celebrate and honor programming created for women, by women, and about women, as well as individuals who have made exemplary contributions in electronic media and affiliates. Presented annually,
63-786: A fad. In 2015, the staff of WestStar moved into a $ 7.5 million, 24,000-square-foot multimedia facility with radio studios and production facilities for TV shows and podcasts. In 2016, Komando was the Keynote Speaker at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas. In 2017, Komando was nominated for the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Marconi Radio Award in the Network/Syndicated Personality of
84-525: A number of other radio formats, among them: Your Weekend , an adult contemporary music program hosted by pianist Jim Brickman ; Quiet Music , a smooth jazz program hosted by Nick Francis; Goddard's Gold and The '70s , classic hits/oldies programs hosted by Phoenix-area disc jockey Steve Goddard; and The Other Side with Steve Godfrey , a call-in talk show in which the title host attempted to communicate with spirits . As of 2020, WestStar continues to distribute Komando's two daily national radio shows and
105-407: A role model for women in media and entertainment. Deadline Hollywood describes the awards as follows: The Gracies recognize exemplary programming created by, for, and about women in radio, television, cable, and interactive media. Honorees are selected in national, local, and student markets, including both commercial and non-commercial outlets. The Gracie Awards are held on two days, known as
126-552: A scholarship for students on her path, female CIS students at her alma mater, W. P. Carey School of Business at ASU. In the mid-1990s, Komando started the WestStar TalkRadio Network (now WestStar Multimedia) with her husband. They built their first studio in 1994. In 1994, ABC and CBS Radio passed on the show, saying a national radio show on the subject would be unsuccessful, as computers and the Internet were
147-400: A weekly radio show on SiriusXM's Business Channel 130 called Tech Insights. Komando refers to herself on her web page as "America's Digital Goddess". As of May 2018, her website, Komando.com, serves 2.7 million unique visitors each month and she sends 500 million newsletters per year to subscribers. Komando and her husband own Phoenix-based WestStar TalkRadio Network, which distributes
168-410: Is an avid car collector and owns a Ferrari F8 Tributo, Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, Porsche 911 Turbo S, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG , Mercedes-AMG GTR Roadster, Mercedes-AMG SL63, Mercedes-AMG G63 Edition 1, three other Mercedes-AMG G63s, Tesla Model S Plaid , Chevrolet Corvette (C8) , 1946 Chevrolet Truck , 1961 Corvette , 1964 Jaguar E-Type , 1964 1 ⁄ 2 Ford Mustang , 1966 Custom Corvette, and
189-773: The Arizona Business Gazette while hosting a call-in talk show on computers. It aired late at night on KFYI in Phoenix, Arizona . In 1992, she formed "The Komando Corporation" with her as President/CEO and her mother as Secretary. She quit sales at Unisys to focus on her syndicated newspaper column and radio show. However, she was only earning $ 60 a week from the column and show combined. Komando developed computer training tapes that she wrote, hosted, and called Komputer Tutor , which she sold via an infomercial. Over 150,000 tapes were sold for $ 80 to $ 120 each. The second generation of tapes included Prodigy. America Online
210-580: The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) to the top radio stations and on-air personalities in the United States . The awards are named in honor of Guglielmo Marconi , the man generally credited as the "father of wireless telegraphy ". NAB member stations submit nominations. A task force determines the finalists and the Marconi Radio Award Selection Academy votes on the winners, who receive their awards in
231-1452: The "local and student award winners," honored on June 26. The 2020 ceremony was held virtually on September 10, 2020, and honorees included Katy Perry for the Gracies Impact Award, Gayle King , Michelle Williams , Niecy Nash , Trisha Yearwood , Ginger Zee , Alex Duda and Izzie Pick Ibarra. The following were the categories as of the 2014 ceremony: Gala Hosts from 2005 to 2014 Paula Zahn , Megan Mullally , Lesley Visser , Giuliana Rancic , Niecy Nash , Maria Menounos , Patricia Heaton , Angela Kinsey , Lana Parrilla , Aisha Tyler Gala Performers from 2005 to 2014 Gloria Gaynor , Miri Ben-Ari , Dance Times Square, Onyx, Elisabeth Withers-Mendez , Dwana Smallwood, Girl Scouts Chorus of Nassau County, Taylor Swift , Dianne Reeves , Melissa Pabon Dancers, Darlin Garcia, The Stunners , Macy Gray , Melissa Etheridge , Deniece Williams , Kimberley Locke Luncheon Hosts from 2005 to 2014 Rene Syler , Roz Abrams , Nancy Giles , Kim Guthrie, Deborah Norville , Moll Anderson Caring Is Sexy Award Angie Harmon , Giuliana Rancic Dove Real Beauty Award Shaun Robinson , Jessica Simpson , Amy Poehler , Lisa Ling , Joy Behar , Linda Ellerbee , Gayle King NAB Marconi Radio Awards The Marconi Radio Awards are presented annually by
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#1732802593803252-579: The Army during the Korean War and was a management employee for United Airlines. Her mother, Virginia, was a senior systems analyst with Bell Laboratories . Kim is the youngest of four, with a brother and two sisters. Kim says in her profile that she first used a computer at nine years of age. She graduated eighth grade from Watchung's Valley View School in 1978. She attended the nearby Catholic private high school for girls, Mount St. Mary Academy , where she
273-697: The Gracie Awards recognize national, local, and student works. The Gracie Awards ceremony is presented by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWM), since 1975. The awards are named after radio and television star Gracie Allen . Allen was a successful comedian, entertainer, entrepreneur and activist. As half of the Burns and Allen act, one of the most prominent comedy teams in American history, with husband George Burns , Allen has been
294-811: The Komando radio program. Komando has appeared on CNN, CBS, MSNBC, ABC, BBC, and Fox News, and her syndicated columns appear in USA Today and other newspapers. She has been a columnist for USA Today since February 2002. She won the Gracie Award from the Alliance for Women in Media for Outstanding Program Host in 2007 and in April 2016 was the keynote speaker at the NAB Show Radio Luncheon to an audience of industry leaders. In January 2017, she
315-539: The Year category. In 2021, Komando was nominated and inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame. She had previously been nominated in 2018, 2019 and 2020. The Kim Komando radio show airs on more than 435 radio stations in the U.S. and in 177 countries on Armed Forces Radio . The Kim Komando television show premiered globally on Bloomberg TV on January 5, 2019. WestStar's radio offerings diversified into
336-507: The age of 19, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems. She is frequently asked if "Kim Komando" is her real name, which it is. The name "Komando" is Russian - Ukrainian . Kim Komando started out in sales, working for IBM , AT&T and Unisys . At Unisys, she sold mainframe systems. She sold Honeywell a Unisys system valued at $ 11 million. Komando wrote a column about computers for
357-614: The gala and the luncheon. The Gracie Awards Gala is a black tie evening affair and awards individuals in the national and mainstream arena. The Gracie Awards Gala has been regularly held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles , California . The Gracie Awards Luncheon, a more casual affair, honors local, public, online, and student works and has been held in New York. The 2019 ceremony took place on May 21, with
378-543: The weekend show and An American Christmas , an annual Christmas special produced by Mannheim Steamroller . Komando is married to Barry Young, who is her business partner and former host of The Nearly Famous Barry Young Show , a local radio show on KFYI in Phoenix until November 2014. They have one son. She is a practicing Catholic. Komando splits her time between her homes in Phoenix , Santa Barbara , and Beverly Hills . She has full broadcast studios in all locations. She
399-751: Was appointed to Forbes Magazine Tech Council. On October 9, 2019, she presented a keynote speech about cybersecurity at the John Glenn NASA Research Center in Cleveland that was broadcast to all 60,000 NASA employees. In 2020, she was nominated to the National Radio Hall of Fame . In 2021, Kim was nominated again and this time inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame. Komando was raised in Watchung, New Jersey . Her father, Richard Paul "Dick" Komando, served in
420-547: Was elected to the McAuley Chapter of the National Honor Society in 1981. After graduating from high school in 1981, one year ahead of schedule as a junior, and having skipped a grade, she attended Arizona State University . While in school, she started her own business to train people how to use their computers. She graduated from Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business in 1985, at
441-522: Was included with the third generation of tapes. Kim Komando negotiated a role running the computer section on AOL's site. The domain Komando.com hosted "Kim Komando's Komputer Klinic" for several years. Komando was the Technology Editor of Popular Mechanics Magazine from 1995 to 1998. She has been a weekly columnist for USA Today since February 2002. She has written 12 books on computers and technology. Through her charitable trust, she sponsors
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